Color image sensor with imaging elements imaging on respective regions of sensor elements

Abstract

The color image sensor generates an image signal representing a subject. The color image sensor has a light sensor and imaging elements arranged to form images of the subject in light of different colors on respective regions of the light sensor. The light sensor includes sensor elements and is operable to generate the image signal in response to light incident on it.

1. A method for generating a color image signal representing a subject, the method comprising:
 providing a light sensor comprising an array of sensor elements, the light sensor operable to generate the color image signal in response to light incident thereon; 
 providing a screen; 
 disposing the screen in a configuration that minimizes the leakage of light from any one region to another region of the light sensor; and 
 independently imaging light of different colors from the subject on respective regions of the light sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the regions of the light sensor are disposed such that none of the edges of any one region is juxtaposed with any one of the edges of another region. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , comprising filtering light from a portion of the light from the subject to provide light of a first color; and additionally comprising filtering light from another portion of the light from the subject to provide light of a second color. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , in which:
 the light of the second color is at least one of(a) closer to the center of the visible spectrum and (b) broader in wavelength range than the light of the first color; and 
 the imaging comprises imaging the light of the first color on a first one of the regions of the light sensor and imaging the light of the second color on a second one of the regions of the light sensor. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , in which the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions differ in at least one of (a) size and (b) number of sensor elements. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , in which the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions are equal in at least one of (a) area and (b) number of sensor elements. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , in which:
 the color image signal comprises an image signal component corresponding to each of the regions of the light sensor; 
 the imaging forms an image on each of the regions of the light sensor; and 
 the method additionally comprises processing the image signal components to remove from the color image signal effects of parallax between the images. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , in which the processing is additionally performed to remove the effects of parallax between corresponding portions of the images. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , in which:
 the method additionally comprises providing imaging elements and affixing the imaging elements to the light sensor; 
 the color image signal comprises an image signal component corresponding to each of the regions of the light sensor; and 
 the method additionally comprises processing the image signal components to remove from the color image signal effects of misalignment between the imaging elements and the light sensor. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , in which:
 the color image signal comprises an image signal component corresponding to each of the regions of the light sensor; and 
 the method additionally comprises:
 controlling the exposure times used to generate the image signal components independently of one another; and 
 processing the image signal components to generate the color image signal, 
 
 the processing comprising correcting for differences in the exposure times. 
 
     
     
       11. A color image sensor for generating an image signal representing a subject, the image sensor comprising:
 a light sensor comprising sensor elements, the light sensor operable to generate the image signal in response to light incident thereon; 
 imaging elements arranged to form images of the subject in light of different colors on respective regions of the light sensor, wherein the regions of the light sensor are arranged such that a first edge of a first region is juxtaposed with a second edge of a second region; and 
 a screen located between the first edge and the second edge, the screen configured to prevent leakage of light incident on the first region from being incident upon the second region. 
 
     
     
       12. The image sensor of  claim 11 , additionally comprising a first color filter optically arranged in series with a first one of the imaging elements, the first color filter configured to transmit light of a first color. 
     
     
       13. The image sensor of  claim 12 , additionally comprising a second color filter optically arranged in series with a second one of the imaging elements, the second color filter configured to transmit light of a second color, different from the first color. 
     
     
       14. The image sensor of  claim 13 , in which:
 the light of the second color is at least one of (a) closer to the center of the visible spectrum and (b) broader in wavelength range than the light of the first color; and 
 the imaging elements form an image in the light of the first color on a first one of the regions of the light sensor and additionally form an image in the light of the second color on a second one of the regions of the light sensor. 
 
     
     
       15. The image sensor of  claim 14 , in which the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions are equal in at least one of (a) area and (b) number of sensor elements. 
     
     
       16. The image sensor of  claim 14 , in which the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions differ in at least one of (a) area and (b) number of sensor elements. 
     
     
       17. The image sensor of  claim 13 , additionally comprising a third color filter optically arranged in series with a third one of the imaging elements, the third color filter configured to transmit light of a third color, different from the first color and the second color. 
     
     
       18. The image sensor of  claim 17 , in which:
 the light of the second color is at least one of (a) closer to the center of the visible spectrum and (b) broader in wavelength range than each of the light of the first color and the light of the third color; and 
 the imaging elements form an image in the light of the first color on a first one of the regions of the light sensor, in the light of the second color on a second one of the regions of the light sensor, and in the light of the third color on a third one of the regions of the light sensor, the second one of the regions differing from the first one of the regions and the second one of the regions in at least one of (a) area and (b) number of sensor elements. 
 
     
     
       19. The image sensor of  claim 13 , in which the regions of the light sensor are arranged in a straight line. 
     
     
       20. The image sensor of  claim 13 , in which:
 the color image signal comprises an image signal component corresponding to each of the regions of the light sensor; and 
 the image sensor additionally comprises a processor operable to process the image signal components to remove from the color image signal effects of parallax between the images. 
 
     
     
       21. The image sensor of  claim 13 , in which:
 the imaging elements are affixed to the light sensor; 
 the image signal comprises an image signal component corresponding to each of the regions of the light sensor; and 
 the image sensor additionally comprises a processor operable to process the image signal components to remove from the color image signal effects of misalignment of the imaging elements relative to the light sensor. 
 
     
     
       22. A color image sensor for generating an image signal representing a subject, the image sensor comprising:
 a first array of sensor elements operable to generate a first image signal in response to light incident thereon; 
 a second array of sensor elements operable to generate a second image signal in response to light incident thereon; 
 a third array of sensor elements operable to generate a third image signal in response to light incident thereon; and 
 wherein the first, second, and third array of sensor elements are disposed with the centers of each of the three arrays located at the apices of a triangle; and wherein pairs of the first, second, and third array of sensor elements are in contact with one another at adjacent corners. 
 
     
     
       23. A color image sensor for generating an image signal representing a subject, the image sensor comprising:
 a first array of sensor elements operable to generate a first image signal in response to light incident thereon; 
 a second array of sensor elements operable to generate a second image signal in response to light incident thereon; 
 a third array of sensor elements operable to generate a third image signal in response to light incident thereon; and 
 a screen disposed to block light incident upon any one of the array of sensor elements from leaking on to any one of the other array of sensor elements.